In the News

  • Atlantic Health to Be Honored at PDFNJ’s Angel of Hope Gala

    Posted 3/25/2026

    MILLBURN, NJ — Atlantic Health will receive the Angel of Hope Award at the PDFNJ 32nd annual Angel of Hope Gala on Wednesday, April 29 at the Liberty House in Jersey City. The recognition highlights Atlantic Health’s leadership in educating and safeguarding New Jersey residents from the opioid crisis through dedicated community support and public health initiatives.

  • Lawrence Cooper to Be Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at Angel of Hope Gala

    Posted 3/25/2026

    LIVINGSTON, NJ — Longtime PDFNJ trustee Lawrence Cooper will be honored with the Joseph (J.P.) Miele Lifetime Achievement Award at PDFNJ’s 32nd annual Angel of Hope Gala on Wednesday, April 29 at the Liberty House in Jersey City. The event recognizes Cooper’s decades of leadership and dedication supporting efforts to prevent substance use and strengthen communities across New Jersey.

  • cbsnews.com – “Senior opioid overdoses rise due to chronic pain”

    Posted 3/19/2026

    “Whether you’re 16 or 65, you still have the same kind of risk if you are prescribed an opioid,” said Angelo Valente, executive director of PDFNJ.

  • Webinar to Explore Safe Pain Management for Patients of All Ages

    Posted 3/19/2026

    MILLBURN, NJ –The next webinar in the 2026 Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series will focus on pain management across the lifespan in a session titled “Addressing Pain in All Stages of Life.” The free session will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 26, and is presented by PDFNJ, the Office of Alternative and Community Responses, and the Opioid Education Foundation of America.

  • PDFNJ in Trenton to Support Improved Access to Nonopioid Pain Relievers

    Posted 3/19/2026

    PDFNJ Executive Director Angelo Valente testified before the New Jersey State Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee on Thursday, March 19, in support of Bill A1821, which would prohibit health insurance carriers from denying coverage of nonopioid prescription drugs in favor of opioid prescription drugs. Read his full testimony below.

  • Atlantic Health, Lawrence Cooper to Be Honored at PDFNJ’s Angel of Hope Gala

    Posted 3/5/2026

    MILLBURN, NJ — Atlantic Health and PDFNJ Trustee Lawrence Cooper will be honored at PDFNJ's 32nd Angel of Hope Gala on April 29 at Liberty House in Jersey City. Set against the theme “A Night in Havana,” the gala recognizes individuals and organizations whose efforts continue to protect and strengthen New Jersey’s children, families, and communities in the fight against substance use.

  • 2026 Your Song! Your Voice! Finalists Lead the Call to End Impaired Driving

    Posted 2/26/2026

    MILLBURN, NJ — Four talented high school acts from across New Jersey are raising their voices against impaired driving as finalists in the 22nd Annual Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey competition, organized by PDFNJ.

  • Webinar to Address Opioids in Pregnancy and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

    Posted 2/19/2026

    MILLBURN, NJ –The next webinar in the 2026 Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series will focus on the impact of opioid use during pregnancy in a session titled “Opioids in Pregnancy & Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.” The free session will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 26 and is presented by PDFNJ, the Office of Alternative and Community Responses, and the Opioid Education Foundation of America.

  • Learning Series Webinar Examines Synthetic Opioids

    Posted 1/23/2026

    The first webinar in the 2026 Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series will address the growing threat of synthetic opioids in a session titled “Opioids & Synthetics: What We Need to Know.” The free session will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 29, and is presented by PDFNJ, the Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR), and the Opioid Education Foundation of America (OEFA).

  • NJ Overdose Deaths Fall to Lowest Level in Years

    Posted 1/20/2026

    Milburn, NJ — New Jersey drug overdose deaths fell to the lowest total in five years in 2025, continuing a sharp decline that began after the COVID-19 pandemic. The statistics were revealed in a study released on January 15 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.